Sixty years of Davide Pedersoli

The leading manufacturer of replica muzzleloaders and western firearms was founded exactly 60 years ago. Not everyone is aware that the company started life producing hunting-12 caliber guns

all4shooters.com03.03.2017

Celebrating the sixty years of the italian manufacturer of replica muzzleloaders and western firearms at IWA 2017.

During the celebration party at Pedersoli's stand, Pierangelo Pedersoli has awarded some of the German muzzleloaders champion shooters.

The story of the gunmaker Davide Pedersoli began exactly sixty years ago in 1957 when the company's founder, Davide Pedersoli (1924-1996), started out manufacturing side-by-side hunting shotguns and specially-patented over/unders. Muzzleloaders were first produced in 1960, and within around ten years had become the mainstay of the business.

Muzzleloaders were first produced in 1960, and within around ten years had become the mainstay of the business.

But what led Davide Pedersoli to focus on replicas? His son, Pierangelo, the company's current CEO, explains:

Davide Pedersoli when he was 36 years old holding a company-made over/under shotgun with parallel firing pins and Demiblock barrels. Patented in 1960.

Historic photo of Davide Pedersoli's original production floor.

“As for many other companies, the start was “American”: Val Forgett, who was then president of the newly-founded Navy Arms Company (1959), came to Italy with his independent business partner in search of gunmakers capable of producing firearms to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the American Civil War.

My father was initially commissioned to produce a prototype of a Winchester lever-action gun. I remember being involved in the production and testing of the gun, which I found a few years ago in the ownership of my father's then business partner during a visit to the USA. But for my father it was too soon to make such a big investment as he had only been in business for three years, so he focused on producing Kentucky pistols and rifles and powder flasks in particular, going on to become the world's leading manufacturer. The following years saw the production of a range of long and short muzzle-loading firearms”.

The second and third Pedersoli generations. Pierangelo and his brother-in-law Giovanni, with cousins Stefano and Daniela.

The production of traditional hunting firearms took a back seat in 1973 to focus on historic muzzleloaders and accessories and to broaden the range of powder flasks, the production of which dated back to 1960 and coincided with the surge in interest for muzzle-loading firearms.

The company continues to be family-run to this day and is managed by Pierangelo and his son Stefano with the support of Pierangelo's brother-in law Giovanni, and Daniela. The company is also training the younger family members who will one day be the third generation to take the helm.

Final assembly of Pedersoli firearms is completed by hand.

Working at the Pedersoli pistol stock bench.

The company achieved complete production autonomy in 1982, meaning that all the wooden and metallic parts of each and every muzzle-loading and breech-loading firearm were manufactured by the company itself. This required the establishment of separate and independent departments specifically dedicated to each individual firearm component throughout every stage of the production process.

The two main departments for barrel and stock production were complemented by others dedicated to the manufacture of small mechanical parts, bolts/screws and flasks, all of which were equipped with numerical control machines. Departments were also created that were responsible for cleaning the metallic parts and for firearm assembly, as well as, of course, the semi-finished material and finished product storage departments.

The barrel production department at Davide Pedersoli today.

Rather than being produced in-house, the company U.S.A. (Universal Special Accessories) was founded to manufacture firearm accessories. The range of accessories offered to gun enthusiasts has multiplied considerably since the first flasks were made all those years ago, and each is specifically designed for use with muzzle-loading or breech-loading firearms.

Today, Davide Pedersoli also boasts its own shooting tunnel to test shot patterns and new prototypes.

If required barrels are manually straightened by skillful artisans.

Muzzle loading barrels with breech plugs screwed in place

Even the conception and analysis of every project is done in-house, using the latest CAD/CAM software, scanners and 3D printers. This ensures the complete safety of each design and continuous quality control, while enabling product changes to be instantly implemented as required in response to an ever-changing global market.

Between Davide Pedersoli and Pedersoli 2 (which manufactures the stocks), the company has a 42-strong workforce, with exports accounting for 92% of all sales. Its biggest markets are the USA, Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Russia and the Arab states.

The recent founding in the USA (Amarillo, Texas) of the Italian-American joint venture IFG (Italian Firearms Group)as the exclusive distributor of four brands (Pedersoli, Fair, Sabatti and Tanfoglio) represents a significant and noteworthy milestone, as it will showcase to the American market a more comprehensive range of hunting and sporting guns as well as historic reproduction firearms.

The mechanical department at Davide Pedersoli today.

Before the muzzleloaders and the firearms for sale undergo final testing, they are first subjected to Pedersoli's Quality Control systems, which include ultrasound tests on the barrel material, resistance and hardness testing, verification of the dimensions, testing the operation of the mechanisms and assessing the production statistical trends.

The woodwork department at Davide Pedersoli today.

The woodwork department at Davide Pedersoli today.

In compliance with the applicable firearms production and sales legislation, the guns must undergo independent testing, which is performed by the Gardone Val Trompia National Proof House (in accordance with C.I.P. standards). The proof test conducted on all firearms, whether muzzleloaders or breechloaders, constitutes the most comprehensive testing process.

Quality is key for Davide Pedersoli, and the outcome of a customer satisfaction survey, conducted as part of an undergraduate economics thesis, is certainly worth mentioning. Of the more than 2000 Pedersoli customers surveyed, 98.5% said they would buy another Pedersoli product or would recommend it to their friends.

The mechanical parts of all Pedersoli firearms are covered by a two-year guarantee effective from the date of purchase. Spare parts are distributed internationally by a number of importers, while the warranty service in Europe is managed by Pedersoli itself and by Service Points spread across the European Union. To facilitate after-sales service, the exploded-view drawings and parts lists with their corresponding codes are available online for all Pedersoli firearms.

We asked Pierangelo Pedersoli about the company's product range.

How many firearms does the Pedersoli catalogue currently showcase?

“318 firearm code numbers, more if you include kits and the different calibers”.

Which are the three biggest-selling firearms in the history of the company?

“Without a doubt the Le Page pistols, the Brown Bess muskets, the muzzle-loading side-by-side shotguns and the Sharps rifles”.

Could you list the most prestigious sporting victories achieved with Pedersoli firearms?

“There have been so many on an international level. I like to think back on the first victories; 1 gold, 1 silver and 3 bronze at the MLAIC muzzle-loading world championships in Versailles in 1983. There was also the 50-medal haul at Barcelos in Portugal in 2010, with 4 world records, and the most recent world championships in Hungary, which saw us win 12 gold, 12 silver and 18 bronze medals. Otherwise, the gold medals won in all long-range and muzzle-loading disciplines”.

Which sporting events does Pedersoli sponsor?

“Usually the European and World muzzle-loading championships that take place in alternate years and various muzzle-loading national competitions, but also the Quigley Match breech-loading silhouette shooting competition (up to 600 yards) in Montana (USA) as well as the breech-loading Long-Range competition (up to 1000 yards) held at Raton (New Mexico). We also support muzzleloader hunting, whether that be in Italy, the USA or Hungary”.

It seems like a contradiction to speak about the future of a company that has made its fortune in weaponry of the past, but what are your upcoming plans?

“For the time being we have no intention of producing modern firearms. Instead, we are looking to expand our range of historic guns even further, not forgetting that today's modern firearm is tomorrow's antique!”.

SHOT Show 2019 / New from Pedersoli: after twenty years of absence, the curious Swivel Barrel double-barreled shotgun in .54 caliber is back. But the news does not end here: presented for the first time in the USA, the 1886 Sporting Classic lever rifle with round barrel and a new version of the Howdah gun.

From the well-known Italian manufacturer, a beautiful reproduction of an unusual gun born from the collaboration between two celebrated gunsmiths in the early nineteenth-century London. A captivating collector's item, but also an accurate and ergonomically well-designed gun that can be used in muzzle-loading events.

When hunting with shotguns I never really liked the smell of gunpowder. So this year I decided that instead of smokeless powder I would try to burn a bit of black powder - and obviously I relied on Davide Pedersoli company.

The 28th World Muzzle Loading Championships just ended in Eisenstadt, the capital of Austrian Burgerland. Also this year Pedersoli was one of the main sponsors of the event and brought home a long list of winners.

IWA 2018 / New from Pedersoli: 1886 Sporting Classic. The 1886 lever action rifle line adds an elegant and powerful model. Thanks to the .45-70 chambering, it can be used for sports shooting and hunting.

SHOT Show 2018 / Davide Pedersoli new firearms in 2018. From one of the most well-known manufacturers of historical replicas, a classic Austrian military rifle-musket, an elegant flintlock side-by-side shotgun and a new deluxe version of the fascinating Howdah pistol.

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